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Fender Adding Eric Johnson RW, Ritchie Blackmore Strats to Artist Series

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New Fender Artist Series additions: Eric Johnson RW Strat and Ritchie Blackmore Strat
Scottsdale, AZ (January 6, 2009) -- In addition to their Road Worn series, Fender's website is also now boasting a few new Artist Series Strats for 2009, including the Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW and Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster. Here's the info and specs from Fender:

Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW
There is no greater example of guitar hero Eric Johnson’s devotion to his art than his new signature model Stratocaster guitar. With singular attention to detail, the new Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW features a two-piece alder body finished in thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer, a quartersawn maple neck with bound round-laminated 12”-radius rosewood fretboard, a three-ply parchment pickguard, pickups voiced by Johnson himself, staggered vintage-style tuners, a custom tremolo block, and four brand-new finish options, three of which (Lucerne Aqua Firemist, Tropical Turquoise and Medium Palomino Metallic) are exclusive to this model.




Medium Palomino Metallic
Larger Image		 Model  
 Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW
Model Number
011-7700-(Color #)
Series
Artist Series
Colors
Dakota Red, Tropical Turquoise, Medium Palomino Metallic, Lucerne Aqua Firemist, (Thin-Skin Nitrocellulose Lacquer)
Body
2-Piece, Deep Contoured, ‘57 Style Lightweight Alder Body
Neck
Quartersawn Maple, Soft “V” Shape, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
Fingerboard
Bound Round Laminated Rosewood, 12” Radius (305 mm)
No. of Frets
21 Highly Polished Medium Jumbo Frets
Pickups
3 Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil Pickups with Countersunk Mounting Screws (Neck/Middle/Bridge)
Controls
Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
Pickup Switching
5-Position Blade:
1. Bridge Pickup Position
2. Bridge and Middle Pickup 3. Middle Pickup Position
4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position
5. Neck Pickup
Bridge
American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Machine Heads
Fender/Gotoh Staggered Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Hardware
Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard
3-Ply Parchment, (8-Hole)
Scale
25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut
1.650” (42 mm)
Unique Features
Extra Smooth Neck to Headstock Volute, Special Neckplate with Engraved EJ and Kokopelli, 1957 Style Body Cavities, Countersunk Holes in Pickguard for Pickup Mounting Screws, Pearloid Dot Inlay Position Markers, Height Staggered Vintage Style Tuners which Eliminate the Need for String Trees, Vintage Tremolo with Silver Painted Block and ‘57 Style String Recess (No Paint Between Base Plate and Block), 3-Ply 8-Hole Parchment Pickguard, 5 Tremolo Springs and No Back Tremolo Cover Plate
Strings
Fender Super 250R, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046)
Accessories
Deluxe Blonde Hardshell Case, Levy’s Woven Strap, 15’ Koil Kords Cable, “Ash Tray” Bridge Cover


Ritchie Blackmore Signature
Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been creating memorable guitar riffs for decades. His deft phrasing and unmistakable tone have helped make the phrase “guitar solo” a household term. Blackmore and Fender are now proud to introduce the Ritchie Blackmore Signature Stratocaster guitar, based on his favorite ’70s model and featuring a maple neck with a graduated scalloped rosewood fretboard, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat pickups, and ’70s-style “F” tuners. Deluxe gig bag included.




Larger Image		 Model
Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
Model Number
013-9010-(305)
Series
Artist Series
Colors
Olympic White, (Polyester Finish)
Body
Alder
Neck
Maple, “U” Shape, (Gloss Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard
Graduated Scalloped Rosewood, 7.25” Radius (184 mm)
No. of Frets
21 Vintage Style Frets
Pickups
1 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Single-Coil Strat Pickup (Neck),
1 Non-Active “Dummy” Pickup (Middle),
1 Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity Seymour Duncan® Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Single-Coil Strat Pickup (Bridge)
Controls
Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck and Middle Pickup),
Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
Pickup Switching
3-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickup
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge
Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Machine Heads
Fender/Schaller Vintage “F” Style Tuning Machines
Hardware
Chrome
Pickguard
3-Ply White
Scale
25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut
1.650” (42 mm)
Unique Features
Ritchie Blackmore Signature on Front of Headstock,
Flush Mounted Dunlop Straplocks,
Large ‘70s Style Headstock,
‘70s Style Decal,
Bullet Truss Rod Adjustment Nut,
3-Bolt Neck Plate with Micro-Tilt™ Neck Adjustment,
Pearloid Dot Position Inlays,
Black Plastic Knobs, Pickup Covers, Tremolo and Switch Tips,
Synthetic Bone Nut
Strings
Fender Super Bullets® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042),
Accessories
Deluxe Gig Bag

For more information:
Fender

     

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Comments

 (20 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Clawed Knobs
on 05/01/2011 		All of Richie's best playing was on a Gibson ES-335. When he switched to the Stratocaster he then changed his playing to that guitar's design and he stopped being as intricate. He did however get sounds from it by playing it with his feet.
c.blondin
on 03/15/2009 		a strat is a strat is a strat.If you want it reliced I can lend you my belt sander.A Ritchie Blackmore,remove the middle pickup.When Leo first came out with The Strat,these guys were not around.I guess all Leo had to offer was a Strat.Mind you I have seen And heard some nice variations but C'mon,enough already.The american standard is still the best.Modify to taste,add a flavor you like ,and rock on.It's cheaper and it's better to make it your own than to have the (insert artist name here)Model
Maxchine Head
on 02/13/2009 		It's true that the Blackmore guitar is not like the one he used the most for the past years. I think the problem is...Yngwie already has his signature Strat looking too much like the guitar Ritchie has been playing the longest! :) The new Olympic White with black pickups and knobs looks exactly like one of his early Rainbow strats, as seen in this picture: http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=2214792639&ref=mf Now I want one to make company to my Malmsteen model. (BTW, Guitar Center blows! How come they have in store the John Mayer and Billy Corgan Signature Strats, but NOT the Ritchie Blackmore??)
Blackmore rip of
on 01/18/2009 		The Fender Blackmore Strat is nothing like the Strat Blackmore uses. The scallops aren't accurate, it hasn't got the tonecircuit (MTC or whatever) and Blackmore doesen't use Vintage White exclusively, but also Yellow White. Besides, he doesen't use Seymour Duncans but Lace!!!

You'll be better of buying fx a Japan made '72 reissue and modify it closer to the real deal.
Johnny Hunkins
on 01/10/2009 		I don't get the neo-conservative comment regarding the turquoise color. Most of the artists pick the colors of their guitars (Kenny Wayne Shepherd is a friend of mine, and he managed every detail of his Fender guitars). Is Eric Johnson a neo-conservative?
EDGAR FORTI
on 01/09/2009 		I'M GLAD THE RITCHIE ARTIST SERIES IS COMING OUT!I BOUGHT ONE IN 1997 AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT INSTRUMENT THE ONLY ONE THING THAT BOTHERED ME WAS, THAT IT HAD A BASSWOOD BODY NOT ALDER. AND NOW SOME WISE GUY'S ARE TRYING TO OVER SELL IT ON E-BAY OVERPRICED . THANK YOU FENDER YOU GUYS ROCK.JUST LIKE PREMIER GUITAR!!
John Zimmer
on 01/08/2009 		HOW ABOUT A REISSUE OF A EARLY 70'S TELECASTER BASS WITH HUMBING PICKUPS and / or aAmerican Deluxe Precision Bass in Black with a white peral pickguard instead of the gold....a mush cooler look !!!! Thanks for listening.
Raimond
on 01/08/2009 		I have just bought a EJ strat. Amazing instrument. Excellent quality. The neck needs a little getting used to but that is a very minor issue. This guitar feels very natural and its sound is incredible.
Braverhund
on 01/08/2009 		Well...the RB strat 'looks' like a Blackmore knockoff....nothing close to the actual strat Ritchie plays, but its still nice that they brought it back. It's the kind of strat Ritchie would have back in the day for when he felt the need to 'smash' one up on stage.....
Remember kiddies, Ritchie scalloped his neck long before Yngwie did.....
guitarboy
on 01/07/2009 		OK, I just went to Fender's website and looked at the Turquoise color. It had to be designed by a neo-conservative because it looks more like a pale baby blue than anything I'd ever want to play. So much for exciting new colors. Get with it, Fender! Gibson comes out with exciting new colors all the time. I know you can do it, because your new Charvel colors are fabulous. Must you always make your colors look so bland? Come on, this is rock 'n roll!!!!



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